1
as in moody
frequently influenced by moods and especially bad moods
one of those temperamental actresses who can make life difficult for everyone around her
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
stock prices have been pretty temperamental lately, often fluctuating wildly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of temperamental
Scotch bonnets are a temperamental crop; the most recent harvest was devastated by hurricanes in Jamaica — a key producer — as well as disease and pests.
—
Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 2 June 2026
The pursuit takes Bond across the world, from Slovakia to the dangerous black market of Aleph, ruled by the temperamental Bawma (Lenny Kravitz).
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 26 May 2026
Naturally, reports of Crowe’s temperamental nature have dwindled over the last 10 years.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2026
One key to Bad Mary’s persistence in the American mind can be found in the temperamental polarity that first drew Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln to each other.
—Thomas Mallon, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for temperamental
Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 2 June 2026
The pursuit takes Bond across the world, from Slovakia to the dangerous black market of Aleph, ruled by the temperamental Bawma (Lenny Kravitz).
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 26 May 2026
Naturally, reports of Crowe’s temperamental nature have dwindled over the last 10 years.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2026
One key to Bad Mary’s persistence in the American mind can be found in the temperamental polarity that first drew Mary Todd and Abraham Lincoln to each other.
—Thomas Mallon, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for temperamental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for temperamental
Adjective
-
The three longtime friends, who live in adjoining apartments in South London, are about to release one of the year’s most gorgeous full-length debuts with Role Model Hermit (out July 3), a marvel of moody atmospherics, taut rhythms, and strange tales.—
Simon Vozick-Levinson,
Rolling Stone,
18 June 2026
-
Props, too, to director of photography Tyson Perkins for cloaking it with moody shadows that fosters its creepy feel.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Both oil prices and global equities have been volatile on news of negotiations.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
-
Guarantees and warranties Warranties provide vital financial peace of mind when dealing with volatile seasonal pests summer heat brings out.—
Nick Perry,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
But the prefrontal cortex is not fully developed until a person reaches their mid-to-late 20s, making young people more susceptible to impulsive behavior while gambling.—
Noelle Phillips,
Denver Post,
18 June 2026
-
The underlying songwriting is impulsive, but many tracks adopt a deliberately sedate mood or sort through dense clusters of cut-up loops, and Alfa’s spatialization gives the album a pallor that can resemble brain fog.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
The rapid rise and fall underscored silver's reputation as one of the market's most unpredictable assets.—
Faith Wakefield,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
-
The restaurant intended to add automatic 18 percent tips to every bill, since international tipping culture is often unpredictable.—
Rachel Siegel,
CNN Money,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
If these fixes apply after the system has already verified the human and if that identity foundation is shallow, even strong transaction records rest on unstable ground.—
Jeffrey Highman,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
Engineers always knew the cliffs were unstable Last Chance Grade was first built as a wagon trail through the dense redwood forest in 1894.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Temperamental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/temperamental. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
